Our Steinbach representative Tina Plett reflects on her third ‘work’ anniversary at Victoria Lifeline and the impact it has had on both her and the community. 

During the last three years, I have been inspired by the vision and values of the management and staff at Victoria Lifeline.

Lifeline is about so much more than just offering a help button.

When I witness people who are over 100 years of age living independently with the protection of a Lifeline, I nod my head and say, now that is a successful life! To age in place, with dignity, in familiar surroundings, with privacy, freedom, and maybe even a pet. When I witness the impact of a help button, it fuels me to tell everyone I meet about Lifeline and that it is available locally.

During the last three years I’ve also gained a great deal of respect for our senior resource coordinators, tenant resource coordinators, home care workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, senior mental health service providers, pharmacists, doctors and many others as I see how significant their roles are in caring for older people in our communities.

There are so many reasons why people need to push their help button and every week I hear stories that begin with the words, “This button saved my life once already,” or “Without that button I don’t know how long my parent would have been on the floor.” Here are a few of the stories that have impacted me…

*One gentleman told me about the time he felt like he was going to pass out, so he quickly pushed his button. He woke up in the hospital and was able to go home soon after his stroke because he received help immediately.

*Another woman said she had fallen but she was not hurt. She was not near furniture so she could not get up on her own. She pushed her Lifeline button, and they called her grandson who lived nearby. When he arrived, she asked him to bring her a chair and then got up on her own.

I also hear the stories and experiences that convinced people to get a Lifeline in the first place and never take it off.

*One gentleman shared how he had fallen to the floor, and he has no idea why he fell. During the fall he broke 3 ribs and dislocated his shoulder. He spent 15 and 1/2 hours on the floor trying to inch his way to a phone. Every move was excruciating for him. Now he has a Lifeline button.

I’ve also learned that the peace of mind Lifeline brings to the family is immeasurable.

I lost my Dad a year ago and immediately put a GoSafe button around my Mom’s neck now that she was living alone. That button will work anywhere across Canada where it can connect to a cell tower. So if she so much as locks her keys out of her vehicle she can push her button and Lifeline will determine her location and call one of her children to rescue her. I am not ok with my Mom not being able to get out of the tub and spending the whole day wondering how long it will take before someone comes to check on her. I told her that if she can’t get to the phone when she needs help, she should push her button and Lifeline can call us. Mom is healthy and walks more than I do. She did not think she needed a Lifeline, but she agrees to wear it because she loves her children, and we want her to.

Most of our clients use Lifeline to keep their independence. Some of our subscribers are using Lifeline as a bridge of safety while they await placement in a care home. A few are using Lifeline after a diagnosis of terminal illness and while in palliative care. I meet these people and I care about them and their families so then I feel the loss when they pass.

Emotional fulfillment through work is every bit as valuable to me as the pay cheque. If I can encourage someone, or inspire someone, comfort someone, or make someone feel valued then I feel satisfied at work and in my personal life.

Growing up in Steinbach and working here, I am blown away that I have been given the opportunity to connect with people again after decades and get to know how their story tuned out.  I get to remind them of the impact they had in my life, in the community, in their church, and through their work. I get to declare to them that their life mattered and they will be remembered and remembered well. I am in tears as I write this paragraph because this has been an incredible privilege.